Christmas Stocking Stuffed
In order to recommend special wines for you for your Christmas Stocking gifts, here’s a little list of recent encounters which we have so enjoyed and hope you will too..
Delaire Graff Cape Vintage 2019
Here, a port by any other name will taste as sweet. Made from two Port varieties which have their origins in the Douro Valley in Northern Portugal, 73% Tinta Barocca and 27% Touriga Nacional. Spiced Red and Black berries abound both on the nose and on the palate which is rich and generous. An excellent acidity line going through to the aftertaste with fine tannins. Just perfect with a young Gorgonzola type blue cheese on crisp thin toasted baguette rounds.
Morné Vrey, Delaire Graff Winemaker
Read more about Delaire Graff Wine Estate – CLICK HERE
De Grendel Rubaiyat 2017
A perfect ‘Bordeaux’ style blend by Charles Hopkins. The Rubaiyat is 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Petit Verdot, 6% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc. Deep dark in the glass. Berries and bloodplums, black olive tapenade. Wonderfully rich and generous and concentrated. Perfect acidity line, soft tannins and fruit running into a long aftertaste. Good partner to your sliced rare roast sirloin with lots of real gravy
Charles Hopkins, De Grendel’s Founding Winemaker
Read more about De Grendel Wine Estate – CLICK HERE
De Wetshof Edeloes Riesling Noble Late Harvest 2006
A gembright amber in the glass. This wine is made from Riesling grapes affected by botrytis cinerea, a noble rot which gives its wonderful characteristic of desiccating the grape and adding the wonderous flavours of soft dried apricots, honey and Earl Grey Tea. Brilliant bright acidity perfectly counteracts the fabulous fruit. Try it with a smooth paté at the start of your Christmas Lunch.
Peter de Wet – De Wetshof Winemaker
Read more about – CLICK HERE
Durbanville Hills Sparkling Demi-Sec
Here’s a fun bubbly which will appeal to all on Christmas Day. In the glass, a great feast of bubbles in a pale hay coloured wine with some green flashes. The aromas are a mélange of citrus and tropical fruits. On the palate, sappy ripe white fleshed peaches, and zested citrus. Lovely balance between fruit and a perfect acidity line going into the aftertaste. Try it with your potted shrimps at Christmas lunch.
Kobus Gerber – White Wine Specialist at Durbanville Hills
Read more about – CLICK HERE
Epicurean 2012
Of the finest wines I have had this year. Excellent Chardonnay as well. This blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot makes me think of barging up the Garonne in Bordeaux, sipping fine wine. Fabulous fruit, minerals, complex and harmonious from entry to the long and gentle waning aftertaste. Stellenbosch Royalty. Perfect for your rib eye off the braai with herb butter.
Team Epicurean
Read more about Epicurean Wines– CLICK HERE
Germanier Wines Grenache Noir Rose 2021
Sophie Germanier has just released her Organic Sauvignon Blanc Semillon blend and here, at the same time her Organic Grenache Noir Rosé. What I love about this is the slightly plum tartness, the forest strawberries, chunky watermelon, a fynbos herbaceousness and pink lemonade. Sophie’s wines are organically grown and made and are utterly delicious for everyday or special occasions. Perfect with your smoked salmon rolls before Christmas lunch.
Sophie Germanier – Organic Winemaker
Read more about Sophie Germanier Wines– CLICK HERE
Groot Constantia Cape Ruby 2018
100% of that great Portuguese Port Grape, Touriga Naçional. Perfect with tonic, ice and lemon as a pre Christmas lunch drink. Or with the blue cheese at the end. Deep plum in the glass. Rich in aroma and palate, lots of ripe black fruit, prunes and raisins, and steamed pudding spice. Gorgeous, smooth, full, rich and generous palate, perfect integration of all the parts.
Boela Gerber Groot Constantia Winemaker
Read more about Groot Constantia Wine Estate – CLICK HERE
Kusafiri Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2020
Klaas Coetzee makes his Organic Wines in Paarl. Kusafiri is the Swahili word for journey. He also has The Spice of Life Shiraz 2020 and a juicy unwooded Chardonnay from the 2021 vintage. And he packs wine in cans, so convenient for picnics. They chill easily in the can as well. In the world of Organic wines there is no destination, winemaking is all about the journey. Klaas also makes this immensely quaffable wine which has all the attributes of a Bordeaux style blend. Packed with country lane fruits like brambles and mulberries with a gentle undertow of dark chocolate. I would chill it before serving with a rack of lamb with coriander off the braai.
Klaas Coetzee, Kusafiri Winemaker
Read more about Kusafiri Wines – CLICK HERE
Landskroon Cape Vintage 2019
A true Port, though we must call it Cape Vintage. A rose by any other name and all that. Paul de Villiers 5th generation Cellarmaster takes his Cape Vintage into the stratosphere with a variety of Port grapes. Tinta Barocca, Souzao, Touriga Naçional and Tinta Amarela, also known as Trincadeira. Deep and darkly coloured in the glass, aromas of cherry tobacco, and spiced poached prune plums. Palate all about berries and cherries and prunes. Wonderful ending, rich and very satisfying. Impressive glass. Perfect with your slice of Christmas Cake in the afternoon.
Nelie & Paul de Villiers, the fifth generation Cellarmaster at Landskroon
Read more about Landskroon Wines – CLICK HERE
Mason Road Serendipity Rosé 2020
Made from a single block of Grenache Noir especially chosen by Kiara Scott for making a fine Rosé. Summery wine, utterly delicious mélange of red berry fruits and watermelon. Medium of body and just so refreshing. Try the Mason Road Chenin Blanc 2020 and Syrah 2020. Perfect partner to smoked trout rolls stuffed with cream cheese.
Kiara Scott, Brookedale Estate Winemaker
Read more about Mason Road Wines– CLICK HERE
Merwida Papenkuils Vlei Vygie Pinotage Rosé 2021
Liesa van der Merwe was recently announced as one of the Top Thirty Young Winemakers of South Africa. Her Merwida Vlei Vygie Pinotage Rosè is a beautiful coral pink in colour, the Pinotage mash having been allowed 6 hours skin contact before fermentation. The aromas are of red and black berry fruits, watermelon and pink spun sugar. The harmony between the acidity line and the fruit is a joy. Perfect as a sipper and excellent with your retro avocado and prawn cocktail at Christmas Lunch.
Liesa van der Merwe, recently chosen as one of the top 30 Young Winemakers in South Africa
Read more about Merwida Wines – CLICK HERE
Oldenburg
From the cooler part of the Stellenbosch Wine Appellation, Nic van Aarde makes this wonderful blend of Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay. Whiffs of ripe white fleshed peaches and soft dried apricots and white flowers on the nose are joined by soft gently spicy palate of ultimate freshness. Impressive glass.
The Chenin Blanc component provides a zesty side, with the Chardonnay contributing a soft, rounded fullness on the palate.
Nic van Aarde, Oldenburg Winemaker
Read more about Oldenburg Vineyards – CLICK HERE
Ses’fikile Shiraz Cinsaut 2019
I have always liked the Ses’fikile wines since Nondumiso Pikashe launched them in the early noughties. Ses’fikile means “We have arrived” and so she did, with a bang. What I like is the unusual blend route she has taken with this wine. For me it ticks all the boxes for a superb blend of the berry, plums and spice components of the Shiraz and the lovely country lane fruits of the Cinsaut. Great sipping wine and excellent with your Christmas glazed ham. Try her Chenin Blanc Roussanne Blend.
Nondumiso Pikashe, Founder of Ses’fikile Wines
Read more about Ses’ fikile Wines– CLICK HERE
Simonsig The Grapesmith Mediterraneo 2019
This is the little pet project of Johan Malan, Cellarmaster at Simonsig, where he blends a variety of grapes of Southern French Origin. This blend of Roussanne 58%, and Marsanne 42% is a pale hay in the glass with flashes of lime green. Johan says “Perfumed fresh lime and verbena aromas fill the glass, followed by a clean chalky minerality. The wine opens over time, revealing acacia flower fragrances. Fresh and restrained on the palate with lovely tension and crispness that persists to the finish. Complex layered flavours with perfectly integrated oak complemented by subtle hints of oats and autolysed yeast add to the palate weight.” Couldn’t have said it better myself, I have had a couple of vintages which I have loved.
Johan Malan, Simonsig Owner & Cellarmaster with his 2020 Diner’s Club Winemaker of the Year Award
Read more about – CLICK HERE
Spier Secret Sparkling Rosé
Now here’s a bit of fun. For anytime drinking on Christmas Day. Vibrant strawberry and raspberry aromas with hints of Muscat on the nose. The rich, honeyed palate bursts with vivacious bubbles and has a crisp, fresh finish. Give your guests a glass when they arrive for Christmas Lunch.
Spier Cellarmaster Johan Jordaan
Read more about Spier Wine Farm – CLICK HERE
Tempel Oogwink 2019
Tempel Wines are well worth looking at. Love the packaging and the names for the various grapes. Do visit the website and see what’s available. These wines are truly special. The Shiraz grapes for the Oogwink are Elgin grown, a cool region in terms of fashion and temperature. Matured for a year in French Oak Barrels of which 20% were new and a concrete egg. Classical Shiraz spiced plums with a fynbos herbaceousness on the nose, followed by a palate with a lovely acidity line, spiced plums, and a savoury undertow. Intricate tannin structure, white pepper and glorious fruit.
Tom Heeremans, Tempel Wines Owner
Read more about Tempel Wines – CLICK HERE
The Fledge & Co Katvis Pinot Noir 2018
This is from the power team of Leon Coetzee, and his wife Margaux, nee Nel, Winemaker on Boplaas Estate in Calitzdorp. Literally hand made wines. This is the wine of Coq au Vin and Boeuf Bourguignon, it loves rustic country fare, in the style of a French grandmother. Grapes from three different regions fermented in open lagaars and 9 months in previous fill 400 litre French Oak Barrels. Classical Pinot Noir with all the berries and cherries and forward fruits, rose water, oak spice, petrichor, forest floor after rain, and with the gravitas of a truly delicious Burgundy. Served it delicately chilled on the Christmas Lunch table with a couple of fine roasted ducks.
The husband & wife Team behind The Fledge & C0, Leon Coetzee & Margaux Nel
Read more about The Flege & CO Wines – CLICK HERE
